Is it legal to own a bear? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The American black bear lives across most of Canada, Alaska, much of the United States and into central Mexico. Adults are far bigger than most people picture. Males typically weigh 350 to 500 pounds and females 150 to 250, and some males top 600. They are omnivores that eat mostly plants, climb well, and spend winter in a den in a state of dormancy. People ask about owning one because cubs are small and appealing, and the photos make them look manageable. They don't stay that way. Rules differ by state.
Banned 34Banned for new owners 3Permit needed 10Depends 1Not verified yet 3
State by state
Tap a state name for every animal we cover there. The source link on each row goes to the rule itself.
| State | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Banned | Bears are designated game animals, possession of live protected wild animals is unlawful, and black bears from outside Alabama are banned by name. No pet route exists. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.06; r. 220-2-.26(1... |
| Alaska | Banned | Bears are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Arizona | Banned | Bears are barred, and the rule names bears. No special license type is open to ordinary pet owners. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406(F)(3) |
| Arkansas | Banned | Bears are banned for individuals. Only owners who held a bear on or before August 12, 2005 could obtain a sheriff's personal possession permit, and no new animals can be added.Statute: personal possession permit only for animals held on or before 2005-08-12. | AGFC Code 09.02(C); Ark. Code 20-19-502, 20-1... |
| California | Banned | Bears are named in the restricted carnivore order, and every family not otherwise listed is restricted. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit. | 14 CCR 671(c)(2)(K)6 |
| Colorado | Banned | Colorado does not allow private pet possession of any animal that is not on its domestic or unregulated lists. CPW issues no licence for pet possession of other wildlife. | CPW Wildlife and Animal Possession page; C.R.... |
| Connecticut | Banned | All bears (family Ursidae) are Category One. Private individuals may not import or possess them, and state law also lists them as potentially dangerous animals.Category One Wild Animal; no pet-owner route | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(2), (b)(1) |
| Delaware | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Delaware's rule for this animal yet. Ask Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section before you buy. | Agency page |
| District of Columbia | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | Banned | All bears (family Ursidae) are Class I and cannot be kept as pets. Only animals held for personal use in 1980 were grandfathered.Class I; no new personal-use ownership | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.002(1)(a)13; 68A-6.003... |
| Georgia | Banned | All bears are inherently dangerous wild animals needing a licence and insurance, and native black bears are on the state's no-pets list. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.Licence and liability insurance required; not issued to pet owners | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.04; O.C.G.A. 27... |
| Hawaii | Banned | All bears (genus Ursus and other bear species) are on Hawaii's research and exhibition list only, so they are barred as pets.Listed only on Part A (research and exhibition); not available for private pets | HAR 4-71-6.5(b)(2), Restricted Animal List Pa... |
| Idaho | Permit needed | Idaho requires a licence or permit from the Fish and Game director to hold black bear, a big game animal found wild in Idaho. A private park permit for personal use also exists.Fish and Game licence or private park permit | Idaho Code 36-701(a) |
| Illinois | Banned | Bears are on the Illinois dangerous animal list, and the black bear is also protected wildlife. Private possession is barred except at zoos, licensed exhibits and similar sites. | 720 ILCS 5/48-10(a), (b) |
| Indiana | Permit needed | Indiana requires a Class III wild animal possession permit for all bears, obtained before taking possession. It requires a six foot perimeter fence, a recapture plan and an inspection.Class III permit; perimeter fence at least 6 feet; recapture plan | 312 IAC 9-11-8 |
| Iowa | Banned for new owners | Iowa bans owning, breeding or importing bears as a dangerous wild animal. Only people who already owned one on July 1, 2007 may keep it, so new buyers cannot.Grandfathered only: a person who already owned it on July 1, 2007 and meets registration, microchip, insurance and enclosure rules. | Iowa Code 717F.1(5)(a)(4), 717F.3, 717F.4 |
| Kansas | Banned | Kansas makes it unlawful to possess or acquire bears or bear hybrids. Narrow exceptions exist for USDA licensees, so a new pet owner cannot lawfully get one.Narrow USDA licensee exception; K.A.R. 115-20-4 permit for black bear and mountain lion is superseded for ordinary owners by K.S.A. 32-1302 | K.S.A. 32-1301(d)(2); K.S.A. 32-1302 |
| Kentucky | Banned | Kentucky bars all bears. Only zoos and approved institutions are exempt, plus owners grandfathered before July 13, 2005 (exotic bears) or April 4, 2023 (black bears).Grandfathered holders only | 301 KAR 2:082 Section 4(2); 301 KAR 2:081 Sec... |
| Louisiana | Banned | Louisiana bans importing, possessing, buying or selling black, grizzly and polar bears. Only grandfathered permit holders, zoos and similar institutions are exempt.Grandfathered permit holders only | LAC 76:V.115(C)(1)(a)-(c) |
| Maine | Banned | Maine does not allow a possession permit for bears, and bears are not on the Unrestricted list. A bear cannot be kept as a pet by a private individual. | 12 MRSA 12152(3-A)(A) |
| Maryland | Banned | Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live bear. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered. | Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i) |
| Massachusetts | Banned | Bears are not on the state exempt or domestic lists, so a state licence is needed, and licence applications to keep animals as pets are denied. Ordinary owners cannot keep them. | 321 CMR 9.01(1); 9.02(2)(c); 2.12(9)(a); M.G.... |
| Michigan | Banned | Michigan bans owning or possessing any bear. Only owners who had their bear on 7 July 2000 and got a local permit then may keep it. No new permits for pets.Grandfathered individual animals only; permit not transferable; no new DNR bear permits | MCL 287.1102(f)(ii), 287.1103(a), 287.1104(1) |
| Minnesota | Banned | Bears are regulated animals. Possession is unlawful, except for animals held since 2005 by registered owners, game farms licensed for bears, and certain other holders. New private pet bears cannot be acquired.Grandfathered animals only (held and registered since 2005) | Minn. Stat. 346.155 subd. 1(e)(2), 2, 7 |
| Mississippi | Banned | Mississippi bans possessing live black bears under the captive game and furbearer rule, with exceptions only for zoos and similar. Other bear species are permit-only under the dangerous-animal rule. | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 8.4(A)-(B);... |
| Missouri | Banned for new owners | Black bears are Class II wildlife and the permit now covers only bears legally held before August 30, 2021. New owners cannot get one. Owners also must register with county law enforcement.Grandfathered animals only (held under Class II permit before Aug 30, 2021) | 3 CSR 10-9.351(1); RSMo 578.023 |
| Montana | Permit needed | Montana issues a wild animal menagerie permit for bears kept for purposes other than exhibition, capped at 10 animals. Bears held in captivity must also be reported and tattooed under state rule.Wild animal menagerie permit; maximum 10 animals; captive-bred stock from licensed sources | MCA 87-4-801(3), 87-4-803(1)(a), 87-4-804(6),... |
| Nebraska | Banned | Nebraska bars keeping any bear (family Ursidae) in captivity, except accredited zoos and similar facilities. Only animals legally held on March 1, 1986 were grandfathered.grandfathered only for animals held March 1, 1986 | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Nevada | Permit needed | Black bears can be kept only under an NDOW noncommercial wildlife license, and the license requires a cage or enclosure meeting set fence and floor standards. Other bears are unlisted and also need a license.Noncommercial license (NRS 504.295); cage or enclosure standards in NAC 504.476 | NRS 504.295(1)(a); NAC 504.476 |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the black bear as a controlled species, but only exhibitors can hold a permit for it. Private pet owners cannot legally keep one.Permit available only to exhibitors (permittee category 5) | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05, Table 800.2; Fis... |
| New Jersey | Banned | Bears are on New Jersey's potentially dangerous lists, and those animals may not be kept as a household pet except when compelled by the infancy of the animal.Potentially dangerous species; no household pets | N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.8(a); 7:25-10.10(a); 10.11(a)6 |
| New Mexico | Banned | Bears are in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts; bears are also protected game mammals under NMSA 17-2-3 | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| New York | Banned | All bears in the family Ursidae are banned, including captive-bred ones. Licences are not issued for pets. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b)(7), (c) |
| North Carolina | Depends | Keeping a black bear in any enclosure is unlawful, with exceptions for zoos, educational institutions and uncaged habitat holders approved by the state. Other bear species are not named, so their status is unconfirmed.black bear barred; other bears unaddressed | N.C.G.S. 19A-10 |
| North Dakota | Permit needed | Bears are Category 3. A private owner needs a state license with inspected enclosures and a veterinary import permit.Needs a nontraditional livestock license from the State Board of Animal Health, with inspected facilities, fencing and a quarantine plan; bear housing rules | N.D. Admin. Code 48.1-09-01-02(3)(b)(3); 48.1... |
| Ohio | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Ohio's rule for this animal yet. Ask Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (native wildlife); Ohio Department of Agriculture (dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Oklahoma | Permit needed | Anyone keeping a native bear that will reach 50 pounds must hold a commercial wildlife breeder licence, with confinement and no public contact conditions.Commercial wildlife breeders licence; confinement, no public contact | 29 O.S. 4-107(E) |
| Oregon | Banned for new owners | Oregon allows only black bears held as pets before January 20, 2017, under an ODFW permit. New black bears go only to AZA zoos or exhibitor or sanctuary facilities. Other bears are exotic animals, permitted only to pre-2010 holders.Existing animals only, no new acquisition. Black bear: pets legally held before 20 Jan 2017; new bears only at AZA or exhibitor/sanctuary facilities. Other bears: pre-2010 ODA permit or exempt facility | OAR 635-044-0460(3); OAR 635-044-0470(2); ORS... |
| Pennsylvania | Permit needed | Pennsylvania bars possessing bears unless you hold a Game Commission exotic wildlife possession permit. New applicants need two years of hands-on experience with the species at an approved facility, and each animal needs its own permit.Exotic wildlife possession permit; 2 years documented hands-on experience; separate permit per animal | 34 Pa.C.S. 2961, 2963; 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(3... |
| Rhode Island | Banned | The black bear is a native animal and a Carnivora with no USDA licensed rabies vaccine. It is listed as prohibited as a pet, and DEM may not permit private persons. Exotic bears fall under the same Carnivora ban. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(6)(c)(4), 3.7(A), 3.... |
| South Carolina | Banned | Non-native bears are banned for private owners. Native black bears may be held in captivity only under a DNR permit, and DNR says it issues no permits for private personal possession of wildlife.DNR permit for black bear; non-native bears banned outright | S.C. Code 47-2-30; 50-11-430(E)(6) |
| South Dakota | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Dakota's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Dakota Animal Industry Board (captive nondomestic animals) before you buy. | Agency page |
| Tennessee | Banned | All bears are Class I, and the native black bear is also Class IV, which only zoos and temporary exhibitors may hold. Pet owners cannot get a permit for a new bear. | Tenn. Code 70-4-403(1)(A)(ii)(b), (4)(A) |
| Texas | Permit needed | Bears are dangerous wild animals in Texas. A certificate of registration from the local animal registration agency is required, with insurance and enclosure rules.Certificate of registration from the local animal registration agency, with $100,000 liability insurance and enclosure rules | Tex. Health & Safety Code 822.101(4), 822.103(a) |
| Utah | Banned | Bears (family Ursidae) are on Utah's prohibited list, and personal possession will not be authorized. | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | Banned | Bears are not on Vermont's Domestic, Unrestricted or Restricted lists, so they are treated as Restricted. The wildlife rule says no permit is issued to keep a wild animal in captivity except for scientific or educational purposes.Permit only for bona fide scientific or educational purposes (10 V.S.A. 4152) | 10 App. V.S.A. 18 sections 4.1 and 5.1(a) |
| Virginia | Banned | Native black bears are wild animals, and possessing one is unlawful unless specifically permitted by law. Nonnative bears (Ursidae) need a special permit from the Department of Wildlife Resources.Nonnative bears: special DWR permit | Va. Code 29.1-521(A)(10) |
| Washington | Banned | Washington lists all bears as dangerous wild animals, and native black bears also fall under wildlife law, which bars holding wild animals without a permit pet owners cannot get. Pre-2007 grandfathering applies only to animals on the dangerous list.Grandfathering under RCW 16.30.030(3) covers only animals lawfully held before July 22, 2007 | RCW 16.30.010(2)(a)(i)(C); RCW 16.30.020(1)(k... |
| West Virginia | Permit needed | Black bears native to the state are excluded from the dangerous wild animal list and fall under wildlife law. A DNR pet permit is required, with the animal from a licensed dealer or open season. Other bears are barred.DNR pet permit, W. Va. Code 20-2-51; all other bear species on dangerous list; confirm availability with DNR | W. Va. Code R. 74-1-3, 3.1.h; W. Va. Code 20-... |
| Wisconsin | Permit needed | Bears are harmful wild animals. Possession needs DNR authorisation through a captive wild animal farm licence, and new applications need written assurance of local zoning compliance.Captive wild animal farm licence (bear application); local ordinance and zoning assurance for initial application | Wis. Stat. 169.11(1)(b); Wis. Admin. Code NR... |
| Wyoming | Banned | Black bears and grizzlies are trophy game animals in Wyoming, and private ownership or possession is banned. Polar and some other bears are federally listed and also barred. | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Section 11(a)... |
Federal law
- Endangered Species Act. The American black bear is not listed, but the grizzly bear in the lower 48 States is threatened and several other bear species are endangered. Selling a listed bear across state lines is restricted. 50 CFR 17.11(h)
- CITES. The American black bear is in CITES Appendix II through the family listing for bears. This matters to importers and exporters, not to ordinary keepers. 50 CFR 23.13; CITES Appendices
Why states regulate it
Where governments restrict pet bears, the reasons are mostly about size, strength and safety. Penn State Extension says a black bear is strong enough to tear open doors, rip holes in siding, break windows and rip into tents to reach food, so an adult is hard to contain. Bears that get used to human food lose their natural fear of people and pets, which may eventually lead to their destruction. Their needs are also hard to meet at home: they eat a wide seasonal diet of fruits, nuts, berries and insects, and den through the winter.
Before you buy
- A cub grows into an animal of hundreds of pounds. Plan for an adult bear's strength and size from the start, not for the cub you meet.
- Bears den for the winter and are largely active in the dark hours, so their rhythms rarely fit a household. They are not true hibernators and may wake and go looking for food.
- Bears that learn to expect human food lose their natural fear of people and pets. Ask yourself honestly what happens to the bear if you can no longer manage it.
- Ask any seller or exhibitor for the bear's origin and written records, and ask for a vet who has treated bears. Visit in person and don't buy a bear sight unseen.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, extension.psu.edu.
Check your own state
The legality checker shows one animal in one state with its source, and exotic pet laws by state lists every state we cover. Related guides: big cat, wolfdog, bobcat.
How we checked. For each state we read the statutes, administrative code and agency lists that govern keeping wild or exotic animals, and every row above links to the text it rests on. A second, independent reviewer then re-read the same sources, and a row is shown only if it survived that check. "Not verified yet" means a state's rule could not be read or confirmed, which is a gap in our data and not a green light. County and city ordinances, landlord and insurance rules, and federal law sit on top of the state rule. Read how we check. See an error? Email hello@creaturesincrisis.org with the link.
Quick answers
- Is it legal to own a bear in California?
- Banned. Bears are named in the restricted carnivore order, and every family not otherwise listed is restricted. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a bear in Texas?
- Permit needed. Bears are dangerous wild animals in Texas. A certificate of registration from the local animal registration agency is required, with insurance and enclosure rules.
- Is it legal to own a bear in Florida?
- Banned. All bears (family Ursidae) are Class I and cannot be kept as pets. Only animals held for personal use in 1980 were grandfathered.
- Is it legal to own a bear in New York?
- Banned. All bears in the family Ursidae are banned, including captive-bred ones. Licences are not issued for pets.
- Is it legal to own a bear in Pennsylvania?
- Permit needed. Pennsylvania bars possessing bears unless you hold a Game Commission exotic wildlife possession permit. New applicants need two years of hands-on experience with the species at an approved facility, and each animal needs its own permit.
- Is it legal to own a bear in Illinois?
- Banned. Bears are on the Illinois dangerous animal list, and the black bear is also protected wildlife. Private possession is barred except at zoos, licensed exhibits and similar sites.
- Is it legal to own a bear in Ohio?
- We could not confirm Ohio's rule yet. Ask the state wildlife agency before you buy.
- Is it legal to own a bear in Georgia?
- Banned. All bears are inherently dangerous wild animals needing a licence and insurance, and native black bears are on the state's no-pets list. Georgia wild animal licences go only to wild animal businesses and public exhibitors, so a pet owner cannot get one.
- Is bear legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 34 states and needs a permit in 10. The table above shows each state.
- Does 'no state restriction found' mean I can buy one?
- No. It means the state rule we read does not ban it or require a state permit. County and city rules, federal law, sale and import rules and your landlord can still stop you.